LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis women's basketball team (6-4, 4-0 NEC) travels to Smithfield, R.I. to face Bryant (4-2, 2-0 NEC) in a two-game series on Thursday and Friday. Tip-off for both games is scheduled for 4 p.m.
 
The Matchup: Saint Francis (6-4, 4-0 NEC) at Bryant (4-2, 2-0 NEC)
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)
Date and Time: Thursday and Friday at 4 p.m.
Watch: NEC Front Row (Game 1), ESPN3 (Game 2)
Live Stats: Bryant.sidearmstats.com
Game Notes: Saint Francis
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
 
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
The Bulldogs were selected eighth in the NEC coaches' preseason poll after finishing sixth in the league in 2019-20 with an 8-10 NEC record.
 
Thursday's game will mark Bryant's first game since December 9, 2020 after the Bulldogs began the season with a 4-2 overall record and a perfect 2-0 record in Northeast Conference play. Bryant earned non-conference wins against New Hampshire and Iona and fell to Massachusetts and Providence before opening NEC play with a sweep against St. Francis Brooklyn.
 
The Bulldogs beat SFBK by an 89-88 margin in overtime in the first game after trailing by eight points at halftime. Senior Brooke Bjelko led Bryant with 19 points and 12 rebounds, her fourth double-double of the season. In the second game, sophomore Nicole Gallagher led the Bulldogs to a 78-61 victory with a double-double of her own (20 points, 11 rebounds).
 
This season, Bjelko leads a trio of double-figure scorers as she averages 17.8 points per game. Gallagher and Alana Perkins also average double figures with 11.7 and 12.5 points per game, respectively. Bjelko is averaging a double-double with 11.8 rebounds per game to lead the team.

SERIES HISTORY
The Red Flash are 13-9 in the all-time series against the Bulldogs but Bryant holds the 7-3 advantage when playing on its home court. Saint Francis has won the last four matchups between the two programs, including both games last season.

In 2019-20, SFU won the NEC opener at Bryant by a 63-60 margin. Karson Swogger led all players with 25 points while Haley Thomas also scored in double figures with 14 points. Saint Francis held off a fourth-quarter push from Bryant to win in Loretto a couple weeks later by a 64-58 margin. Thomas and Jenna Mastellone led the SFU scoring with 13 points apiece while Jada Dapaa grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds.

LAST TIME OUT
Saint Francis took both games against LIU in DeGol Arena last week, improving to 4-0 in NEC play for the first time since the championship 2017-18 season. On Thursday, the Red Flash overcame a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to earn the 76-72 victory with a perfect 17-of-17 mark from the free throw line during that final quarter proving valuable. SFU had four players in double figures - Thomas (18), Swogger (17), Lili Benzel (15) and Sam Miller (10). Katie Dettwiller hauled in a career-high 10 rebounds in the win.
 
On Friday, Saint Francis did not trail as it held off a fourth-quarter Sharks push to preserve the 66-62 victory. With 19 seconds on the clock and a 64-62 lead, the Red Flash came up with a defensive stop to force LIU to foul and Swogger to put the game out of reach at the line. Swogger led four Red Flash in double figures with 17 points while Miller contributed 12 points and Benzel and Mastellone each had 10. Mastellone led with a career-high nine rebounds.
 
 
Follow Saint Francis Women's Basketball on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get up-to-date information and a behind-the-scenes look at the Red Flash program.
 
To learn more about Saint Francis University, visit francis.edu.